SINGAPORE - Two people were charged in court on Monday (Jan 20) for causing the death of a patient undergoing liposuction in 2009.

The high-profile case was Singapore's first recorded death resulting from aesthetic treatment.

Former doctor Wong Meng Hang, 44, was charged with one count of committing a rash act causing death.

Zhu Xiu Chun, also known as Myint Myint Kyi, 56, was charged with one count of abetting Wong in his rash act.

Both were doctors at an aesthetics clinic known then as Reves Clinic, in Orchard Road.

On Dec 30, 2009, Wong performed liposuction on 44-year-old Franklin Heng to remove fat from his back and abdomen. Wong was assisted by Zhu, who monitored the patient during the procedure.

Wong chose to sedate Mr Heng with propofol, an anaesthetic drug and potent sedative. This was despite he and Zhu lacking the necessary training and experience to administer Propofol safely or according to the manufacturer’s instruction, which states it should only be administered by physicians trained in anaesthesia or in the management of patients under intensive care. 

He instructed Zhu to increase the drug dosage whenever Mr Heng was observed to show any signs of responding to pain stimulation, movement or discomfort.